AUTHOR INTERVIEW : BHAVNA MISHRA
My debut book Be strong always and in all ways is a story every child must have lived, a lesson that every parent would want to pass on to their children and a memory no one would like to lose .
Bitti the protagonist of my story invites you to take a peek into her diary as she relives her journey in a lockdown imposed due to a pandemic the world is grappling with.
Bitti has to stay strong for her family and the essentials she has in her possession are her father’s memories and the life skills he instilled in her at a very young age.Now was the time for her to practice those skills and emerge a winner, she needs her daily dose of positivity and hope and she finds it hidden in her very own journey, carefully secured in her closest companion: Her diary.
She wants to make her father proud but her only regret was he was no longer alive ,she wanted to show her son how much she cared but the only hurdle was he lived in another house ,her daughter was her only support who was watching her closely like a role model.
It's a story that talks about relationships and their emotional journeys.
Q2. What made you write this book?
This book is a heartfelt tribute to my father whom I lost when I was 12 years old. The inspiration is an autograph my dad gave me a day before his untimely demise. That day was the most difficult day of my life and as a twelve year old I promised to myself that I will never let the memories of my dad fade and this book is the fulfillment of that promise.
Through this book I wish to keep him alive not only in my memories but in the hearts of all those parents who touch the lives of their children through their special ways.
Q3. What is your favourite genre?
I love mystery stories. It keeps me engaged and I love solving the mystery before it unfolds in the story. Getting it right makes me happy.
Q4. Share some memories from your childhood days?
My daddy loved walking and mostly on our evening walks together we used to chat nonstop, at times he told me stories, encouraged me to share about my day at school and we used to make plans for our summer holidays. On most occasions he was a good listener and I used to be the one talking nonstop a habit that changed completely when he was no more,I hesitated to speak and my thoughts remained inside ,fears and uncertainties took over my confidence and chirpiness.
We felt the cool fresh breeze, admired the swaying trees on our path and always stopped for few minutes to rest and pray in a small temple that came on our way.
The joy of placing my hand on the temple bell to make it ring loudly gave me a sense of achievement, of course to do this I had to be lifted by my daddy.
We then used to go to the temple priest for the wet orange tikka on our forehead, the priest used to gently put his hand on my head, he recognized us as regular visitors, we could sense that in his smile. Then daddy and I used to find a corner to sit and enjoy our sweet prasad. Daddy knew I enjoyed eating it so he used to always give me a part of his share too.
Q5. When and how did you develop an interest in writing ?
The habit of reading and writing which my daddy inculcated in me as a child has helped me in keeping his memories alive in my debut book, which is my only possession of him today. My daddy introduced me to the engaging world of books. These books played my silent yet powerful companions and made a significant difference in shaping who I am.
As a child I remember each time I asked my daddy for a toy,he bought me books.
My toys would have got lost in my growing up years but my ability to read and write has grown and refined with each passing day of my life.
I enjoy writing and always make a sincere attempt to express the emotions as felt.
Q6. What do you like to do in your leisure time?
I love watching movies and reading books. Going to book stores to buy books is another thing I enjoy doing.
Q7. What are you planning to write next ?
I am getting very positive reviews on my debut book.People are loving my main character Bitti so my 2nd book will be an extension to Bitti’s story.
Q8. Which is your favorite book ?
The last Lecture by Randy Pausch is a book I loved reading and it left a deep impact.It is a story that emphasizes on the importance of a family and pursuing your dreams.
Q9. Who is your favorite author ?
My favourite author is Ruskin Bond.I liked his simple style of writing and how his depiction makes every reader experience his stories closely.
Q10. What is the most difficult part of writing a book ?
To me personally the most difficult part is taking out time to give writing priority .I wasn’t able to do it due to my work schedule but in this lockdown the only positive aspect we all were blessed with was time. I valued the time in hand, gave my day a good structure and took out time to complete my book but in future will give this priority and not let my writing take a backseat.
Q11. Have this ever happened that when you had gone to publish your book and they haven't accepted your book?
I connected with The Book Bakers Team and it has been such a smooth process for me, I am aware that getting a book published is not easy but if you connect with the right people there is no looking back.
My book was published by Locksley Hall Publishing and supported by literary agency The Book Bakers.
Their team was so supportive and gave respect to my manuscript by ensuring its well edited and presented before reaching the masses.
I was extremely touched with their involvement in my work. I am inspired to write again and collaborate with them.
I am thankful to Suhail Mathur from the Book Bakers Team for connecting me to the wonderful team at Locksley Hall Publishing.
A note of special gratitude to the book designing team and the marketing team for their creative inputs and support.
To me their support reflected someone 'cares' for my work as much as I do.
Q12. What is the key message in the book ?
The key message in this book is value your parents, value relationships and never give up no matter how difficult life gets.
Be strong always and in all ways till your last breath.
I want to also highlight the beautiful bond between a father and a daughter. There can’t be a better relationship to make life worth living.
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Author Bio
An alumna of St. Stephen’s College (D.U), Bhavna Mishra went on to do MBA with specialization in Human Resource Management from Amity University.
She started her career as an early childhood educator and went on to mentor over 80 schools spanning diverse regions for their academic support, quality checks and ensuring alignment of processes with institutional objectives. Having honed her skills for over 20 years in all aspects related to the teaching-learning process, she now brings in vast experience and expertise in her roles as a teacher trainer.
This is her first attempt to write a story to inspire, to instill hope, to nurture dreams and to connect with her father through her book.
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